Justice minister says miscarriage of justice likely occurred in Sask. murder case, orders new appeal | CBC News

The federal minister of justice has ordered a new appeal in the case of two sisters who were convicted of murder more than 30 years ago.

The appeal was announced on Thursday, after an "in-depth" review by the ministry that took more than four years and found "reasonable grounds to conclude that a miscarriage of justice likely occurred."

Odelia and Neressa Quewezance, sisters from Keeseekoose First Nation in Saskatchewan, were convicted in 1994 of second-degree murder in the death of Anthony Joseph Dolff, a farmer from Kamsack, Sask.

"My decision does not decide guilt or innocence, as that will rest with the courts," Justice Minister Sean Fraser said in a news release.

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"Our responsibility is to make sure Canadians can trust their justice system, and that means, in rare cases, returning cases to the courts for new information to be considered."

The new information was not before the courts at the time of the sisters' trial or appeal, the government said.

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In an emailed statement, Odelia Quewezance spoke on behalf of herself and her sister and thanked everyone who has "kept the faith" with them over the years.

"Neressa was 18 when she was arrested and is now 52. I was 21 and am now 55. But we have never stopped fighting," Odelia said.

"Today’s announcement by the minister is encouraging and now we will continue the fight in the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal."

On Feb. 25, 1993, Dolff invited the two young Indigenous girls and their teenage cousin to his home in Kamsack, Sask.